More Notes

Today is west civ we talked about the exam a little bit and then took notes.  We are going to have a test on this on Wednesday of next week.

• 511 AD: Clovis united Franks into one kingdom
• 600 AD: Church and Frankish rulers convert many
• Fear of Muslims in southern Europe spur many to become Christians
• Monasteries and convents:

• 520 AD: Benedict wrote the rulers for monks and monasteries
• Poverty, chastity, obedience, and study
• His sister Scholastica did the same for nuns in convents
• 731 AD: the Vulnerable Bede wrote a killer history of England
• Monks opened schools, maintained libraries, and copied books

• A European Empire Evolves:
• Franks control largest European kingdom

• The Roman province formally known as Gaul
• Ruled by Clovis- the Merovingian Dynasty

• Major Domo- mayor of the palace- ruled the kingdom
• Charles Martel- Charles the Hammer

• Extended the frank's reign to the north, south, and east
• Defeated a Muslim army from Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732- historic battle

• Charles the Hammers' son- Pepin the Short

• Possible named for his unusual short haircut
• Working for and with the Pope, Pepin fought the Lombards
• Pope Stephen II named Pepin "king by the grace of God:- beginning the Carolingian Dynasty 751-987 AD
• Pepin had two sons: Carolman and Charles
• Carolman died leaving Charlemagne in charge

• Charlemagne- Charles the Great

• Six foot four
• Built the greatest empire since Rome
• Fought the Muslims in Spain
• Fought Germanic Tribes
• Spread Christianity
• Reunited Western Europe
• Became the most powerful king in western Europe
• Pope Leo III crowned him emperor in 800 AD after he defended him from an unruly Roman mob
• This signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire

• Charlemagne's government

• He limited the authority of the nobles
• He regularly visited ever part of his kingdom
• Kept close eye on his huge estates

• Cultural revival

• Encouraged learning
• Ordered monasteries to open schools
• Opened a palace school

• But, his heirs were weenies

• His son- Louis the Pious- was ineffective
• Louis' three sons- Lathiar, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German- split up the kingdom at the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD